Thursday, July 10, 2014

Thousands At Funeral Of Hero FDNY Lt. Gordon 'Matt' Ambelas

Staten Island - Mayor Bill de Blasio, Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro and thousands of firefighters, friends and relatives bid their final farewell to "hero" Lt. Gordon "Matt" Ambelas of Great Kills in a moving tribute at St. Clare's R.C. Church.

Ambelas of Ladder 119 died on Saturday night after suffering multiple injuries at a fire in a public-housing building in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.The most passionate and compelling words during the funeral and processions that lasted for over 2 1/2 hours were expressed by the lieutenant's wife, Nanette Russo Ambelas, in a eulogy read by her close friend Margaret Gulliksen. Her touching eulogy prompted tears, laughter and smiles.

"How am I supposed to breathe without you? Ten years with you just wasn't enough...you gave me the best part of you, our girls," Mrs. Ambelas said of their children, Gabriella, 7, and Giovanna, 5.

"I will never let you go...you were taken too early from a family that loved you and needed you... I will be counting the time until I am in your arms again."

Of her husband's death, Mrs. Ambelas said, "I keep trying to make sense of it and I can't. "